Famous

This section is dedicated to famous Chi Phi Members throughout history that have contribution significantly in one of the listed categories. Famous Brothers can be found in Arts and Entertainment, Business,Government, Humanities, Science and Medicine, and Chi Phi Heroes. Please recommend other additions to the National Office.

Famous Chi Phi Members in Arts and Entertainment

ANCHORMAN: WALTER CRONKITE, University of Texas 1937:

Known as “the most trusted man in America,” Walter Cronkite topped the nightly news ratings as anchorman for CBS News from 1968 until his retirement in 1981. He learned sound journalistic practices both in college and while working for United Press International, entering the brand new field of television in 1950. “Cementing bonds of life-long friendship that can be a source of happiness through life” is his testimonial to his Chi Phi Fraternity experience.

An Oscar winner and now president of the Fine Line division of New Line Cinema, Brother Ordesky has quickly become a well-known and successful component of the entertainment industry. As president of the Fine Line Division, he has played an important role in numerous contemporary films and was influential in the production and marketing of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

ENTERTAINMENT: ADAM LARSON, Boston University 2001:

Member of MTV’s Road Rules 10: The Quest

ENTERTAINMENT: GABRIEL CADE, University of NC, Wilmington 2000:

Participant in CBS’ hit series “Survivor”

ENTERTAINMENT: DAN BAKKEDAHL, Florida State University 1993:

Correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show

ENTERTAINMENT: William Oliver Swofford, Alpha-Alpha 1967:

Known professionally by the mononym “Oliver,” was a pop singer, best known for his 1969 song “Good Morning Starshine” from the musical Hair and “Jean,” the theme song to the Oscar-winning film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Famous Chi Phi Members in Business

FINANCIER: JAMES ROBINSON III, Georgia Institute of Technology 1957:

James D. Robinson III, before his retirement, headed American Express, one of the country’s oldest and most innovative companies. After graduation, he served in the Navy, studied at Harvard for his MBA, and then worked with Morgan Guaranty Trust in various departments until 1967 when he was made an officer. The following year, he became a general partner in White, Weld, & Co., but joined American Express as executive vice president in 1970. In 1977, at the age of 41, he progressed to chairman and chief executive officer.

BUSINESS: LAWRENCE A. APPLEY, Ohio Wesleyan University 1927:

Following successful business management positions with companies such as Mobil Oil, Vick Chemical, and Montgomery Ward & Co, Lawrence Appley served as president of the 85,000 member American Management Association from 1948 to 1968 and as its chairman of the board from 1968 to 1974. He has served on the boards of more than 35 organizations and educational institutions including Nabisco, Standard Oil of Ohio, Sheraton, Kohler, Oneida, Montgomery Ward, Vick Chemical, the Brunswick School, Ohio Wesleyan University, American University, Colgate University, and Cazenovia College. During World War II, he was executive director of the War Manpower Commission and earned America’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Merit, from President Truman in 1946.

BUSINESS: BENJAMIN RUSSELL, University of Virginia 1899:

Founder of Russell Athletics

BUSINESS: CLIFFORD F. HOOD, University of Illinois 1915:

President of United States Steel Corporation

BUSINESS: JOHN L. COLLYER, Cornell University 1917:

Chairman of B. F. Goodrich

BUSINESS: GERALD L. PHILLIPPE, University of Nebraska 1932:

President of General Electric Company

BUSINESS: MICHAEL EAGAN, Cornell University 1962:

Chairman and CEO of Alamo Rent-A-Car

BUSINESS: DENMAN McNEAR Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1948:

President and CEO of Southern Pacific Railroad

BUSINESS: ARTHUR M. GOLDBERG, Rutgers University 1963:

President and CEO of International Controls Corporation

BUSINESS: GEORGE M. WALLACE, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1940:

Founder of Denver Technological Center

BUSINESS: THOMAS J. HARGROVE, University of Nebraska 1912:

President of Eastman Kodak.

BUSINESS: DENNIS F. HOLT, University of Southern California 1955: Dennis was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. After graduating from USC, he sold radio airtime in San Francisco and Los Angeles and television time in New York. Dennis had the idea of representing advertising agencies as a group instead of individually in order to get better deals from media. This began the concept of media buying service. Dennis is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Patriot Communications, LLC.

Famous Chi Phi Members in Government

SENATOR: CHARLES S. ROBB, Cornell 1961, University of Wisconsin 1961: Charles S. Robb received more votes than any candidate for state office in Virginia history in becoming the Commonwealth’s 64th Governor in 1982, following service as Lieutenant Governor from 1978 to 1982. His military education in the Wisconsin ROTC unit, where he was a student commander of all ROTC units, was followed by Marine Corps Basic School, where he was number one in his class. A law degree followed. In 1988, he was elected to the United States Senate and was reelected in 1994.

GOVERNMENT: JESSE GROOVER BOWLES, JR., University of Georgia 1946: As a local chairman of the Democratic Party, while a young man in his 20s, Jesse Bowles personally accompanied African-American citizens to the courthouse for voter registration, disregarding derogatory remarks as he passed. Mr. Bowles has been a member of the Georgia Bar Association since its founding in 1964 and has served on its Board of Governors. In 1972, he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, which honors only one percent of each state’s practicing attorneys with membership. In 1977, Brother Bowles was appointed an Associate justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, and in 1981, he returned to his law partnership, relinquishing his place in line of succession as Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.

GOVERNMENT: DANIEL G. AMSTUTZ, Ohio State University 1954: Brother Amstutz was named by the George W. Bush Presidential Administration as the Senior Ministry Advisor for Agriculture in Iraq. Prior to this post, Brother Amstutz was the Executive Director of the International Wheat Council and the United States Ambassador-at-large for Agriculture and Trade Development.

GOVERNMENT: SPENCE PRYOR, University of Georgia 1995: A third generation Chi Phi, Brother Pryor was a key element of President George W. Bush’s legal team during the 2000 Presidential Elections.

GOVERNMENT: Hugh L. Nichols, Alpha-Chi/Ohio Wesleyan 1888:

Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 1911-1913 and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio from 1913-1920.

GOVERNMENT AND LAW: SYLVESTER SMITH, Lafayette College 1916: President of the American Bar Association

GOVERNMENT: HENRY A. BALDWIN, Beta 1891: Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, (Territory of) Hawaii

GOVERNMENT: PHILIP M. FRAZIER, University of Illinois 1973: Federal Judge, U.S. Southern District of Illinois

GOVERNMENT: THOMAS F. STROOCK, Yale University 1948: United States Ambassador to Guatemala

GOVERNMENT: LYLE F. LANE, University of Washington 1950: United States Ambassador to Uruguay and Paraguay

GOVERNMENT: RICHARD C. FREEMAN, University of Georgia 1946: U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Georgia

MILITARY: DAVID A. COFFMAN, Florida Institute of Technology 1982: Pilot for U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds

GOVERNMENT: JOHN A. GIANNETTI, Phi Lambda Theta 1986: Member of the Maryland House of Delegates and State Senator

GOVERNMENT: WILLIAM E. CHILTON, III, Omicron 1950: Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates

GOVERNMENT: HASAN HARNETT, Rho 1995 , State Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party

GOVERNMENT: Gil Garcetti, Eta Delta 1961, served as Los Angeles’ 40th District Attorney for two consecutive terms. During his first term, his office was dominated by the O.J. Simpson Murder Trial.

Famous Chi Phi Members in Humanities

MINISTER, EDUCATOR, AND DIPLOMAT: REV. JAMES T. LANEY, Yale 1950:

Educated at Yale University (BA-Economics, MDiv, PhD), Brother Laney taught at Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and Harvard University. Dean of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and later President of Emory University, Brother Laney is credited with much of the responsibility for Emory University ‘s development into a world-renowned University. Named the United States Ambassador to South Korea in 1993, Brother Laney is credited with playing a key role in the diffusion of the 1994 nuclear crisis with North Korea. A Methodist Minister, Brother Laney has also received honorary degrees from over twenty universities throughout the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and Korea.

EDUCATION: DOUGLAS C. NORTH, University of California 1942:

1993 Nobel Prize in Economics Recipient.

URBAN MINISTRY: REV. ROBERT R. PARKS, University of Florida 1940:

Working within the urban scene, first in Jacksonville and then as rector of New York’s wealthy downtown Trinity Church from 1971 to 1986, Brother Parks founded a ministry to aid the aged and to serve the poor. Under his leadership, the church has given thousands of people housing, education, and spiritual aid.

Professor of History and President of Pennsylvania State University, 1908-1920. Namesake of Chi Phi’s Sparks Memorial Medal, given for academic achievement.

Famous Chi Phi Members in Science and Medicine

PHYSICIAN: DR. JAMES Z. APPEL, Franklin and Marshall 1928:

Elected President of the American Medical Association in 1965, Brother Appel also received Franklin and Marshall College’s Alumni citation in 1964 for completely developing the college’s health service from a one-man affair to a fully-staffed operation.

Just five years out of college, William T. Baker was one of the pioneers of computer software development with his “Easy Writer” program that was adopted for IBM’s line of personal computers. He credits his work in membership recruitment with aiding him in sales and his experience as treasurer with teaching him how to work with others.